“We normally hear from our customer’s that The BARF Diet works like magic. Not only is the diet great, but it does not include the nasty ingredients and foreign chemicals that are contained in a dry kibble diet. The magic is due to feeding the most biologically appropriate food for the species. I call it putting the right gas in the tank.”

- Robert Mueller

Ask An Expert

Chocolate: A Tasty Treat Pets Die For

By Robert Mueller

A while back I came across an article that I found quite interesting. I think it is common knowledge to most pet lovers that chocolate is potentially harmful to a dog or cat. What I found quite interesting though was just how dangerous it really is.

Chocolate contains Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs and cats. It only takes 45 or more milligrams of theobromine (per pound of your dog’s weight) to reach a potentially lethal dose.

The chart below shows the quantity of chocolate that would need to be consumed to reach toxic levels, along with the theobromine content of the products:

Theobromine

Lethal Dose

Lethal Dose

Lethal Dose

(mg/g)

(20 lb. dog)

(50 lb. dog)

(80 lb. dog)

Cocoa

20.3

1.6 ounces

3.9 ounces

6.3 ounces

Unsweetened Baking Chocolate

13

2.5 ounces

6.2 ounces

9.9 ounces

Fudge

6.5

4.9 ounces

12.3 ounces

19.7 ounces

Semi-sweet Chocolate

5.6

5.7 ounces

14.3 ounces

22.9 ounces

Milk Chocolate

1.5

21.4 ounces

53.4 ounces

84.3 ounces

I found this chart to be quite helpful. It can help determine a lethal dose in case of ingestion by your dog for these various chocolate products. It is one thing to issue a caution, but to have the actual amounts may come in very handy to the owner in an emergency situation.

Chocolate can harm your pet.

Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs

Abdominal Pain & Difficulty Breathing

Diarrhea and Vomiting (may contain blood)

Difficulty Standing/Walking & Lethargy

Elevated Heart Rate

Excessive Thirst & Urination (may contain blood)

Muscle Spasms & Seizures

Panting & Drooling

Restlessness & Other Unusual Behavior

In every instance of chocolate poisoning it is HIGHLY advised that you seek immediate veterinary attention.

If your pet has recently consumed the chocolate and has not yet vomited, you can induce vomiting by using activated charcoal or hydrogen peroxide.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 1-888-426-4435

*$65.00 consultation fee may be billed to caller's credit card.

Please pass this information on to all of your pet loving friends. This may potentially save an animal’s life.

Robert Mueller, BSc, Pharm. is a registered pharmacist, author of “Living Enzymes: The World’s Best Kept Pet Food Secret”, and co-developer of BARF World’s BARF Diets® patties, nuggets and supplements – the first company to make the Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods (BARF®) diet conveniently available to animals everywhere. To receive more articles like these in your email inbox,click here to sign up for “The Intelligent Pet” weekly e-zine absolutely FREE!